DANE VILAS of the Nashua Cape Cobras will captain the four-day Test squad and Dean Elgar of The Unlimited Titans the 50 overs squad on the South Africa A tour to India in July and August.

THE Nashua Cape Cobras duo of fast bowler, Dane Paterson, and batsman, Omphile Ramela, and the Sunfoil Dolphins spinner, Keshav Maharaj, have all been rewarded for their excellent form in the past season’s Sunfoil Series by earning call-ups for the four-day team. Ramela made 724 runs at an average of 42 while Paterson (42) and Maharaj (36) were among the leading wicket-takers. Another newcomer is Cameron Delport of the Dolphins who has been selected for the limited overs squad. South Africa will play a triangular limited overs series against India A and Australia A in which each team will play one another twice plus the top two going through to the final and this will be followed by two four-day unofficial Test matches against India A. “A number of relative newcomers to the Proteas have been included in the South Africa A squads and, with the Proteas due to tour India later this year, this tour will give them invaluable experience of Indian playing conditions,” commented South Africa A coach, Vinnie Barnes.South Africa A four-day squad: Dane Vilas (Nashua Cape Cobras, capt), Temba Bavuma (bizhub Highveld Lions), Gihahn Cloete (Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (The Unlimited Titans), Marchant de Lange (The Unlimited Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Nashua Cape Cobras), Reeza Hendricks (Knights), Keshav Maharaj (Sunfoil Dolphins), Dane Paterson (Nashua Cape Cobras), Dane Piedt (Nashua Cape Cobras), Omphile Ramela (Nashua Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (bizhub Highveld Lions), Stiaan van Zyl (Nashua Cape Cobras), Hardus Viljoen (bizhub Highveld Lions), David Wiese (The Unlimited Titans)South Africa A List A squad: Dean Elgar (The Unlimited Titans, capt), Cody Chetty (Sunfoil Dolphins), Theunis de Bruyn (The Unlimited Titans), Marchant de Lange (The Unlimited Titans), Cameron Delport (Sunfoil Dolphins), Beuran Hendricks (Nashua Cape Cobras), Reeza Hendricks (Knights), Eddie Leie (bizhub Highveld Lions), Keshav Maharaj (Sunfoil Dolphins), Omphile Ramela (Nashua Cape Cobras), Mthokozisi Shezi (Nashua Cape Cobras), Lonwabo Tsotsobe (bizhub Highveld Lions), Dane Vilas (Nashua Cape Cobras), David Wiese (The Unlimited Titans), Khaya Zondo (Sunfoil Dolphins)

CRICKET SOUTH AFRICA (CSA) has heard with sadness of the passing of former player and administrator, Bert Erickson, last night.

Mr. Erickson, who represented the South African Coloured Cricket Association (SACCA) during his playing days, was last year one of the first 10 recipients of the CSA Heritage Blazers that honour those players who represented the 10 different national associations prior to unity. As an administrator his name was synonymous with the Avendale Cricket Club of which he was chairman for many years. “On behalf of the Cricket South Africa Family I extend our deepest condolences to his family, his many friends and his cricketing colleagues,” commented CSA Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat.

Justin Ontong was ruled out of the Caribbean Premier League due to a knee operation to attend to cartilage damage to his knee.

Ontong would have represented the Barbados Tridents, but due to the operation, which will keep him out of action for six weeks, he will not join his Cobras colleague Robin Peterson for the Premier League. A feature of Ontong’s career has been his longevity. He first represented South Africa in January 2002 in a test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. In January 2015, Ontong captained South Africa in a T20-International against the West Indies, which was the most recent of his 44 international games in all three formats, In 172 first-class games, the 36-year old stylist has scored 10 374 runs at an average of 41.16. Ontong was disappointed upon hearing that he was not included in the T20-squad for the tour of Bangladesh, but he was undaunted by the setback. “I will be back, and I will give my all for the Cobras,” he said. Ontong has been a stalwart for the Cape Cobras and South Africa A the past three seasons, and has led the A-team to unofficial test series-wins against Australia in 2013 and 2014. He was also at the helm for the Cobras when they won the franchise double in 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. Ontong wanted to use the Caribbean experience to attract the attention of the national T20-selectors, but hope he can bolster his international re-selection while representing the South Africa A-team in India.

Beuran Hendricks faced a potential career-threatening stress fracture in 2014 and suffered several months on the side-lines after representing South Africa in five T20-Internationals. Now, the 24-year old left-arm swing bowler has taken the first firm step on his way back into international cricket.

He was selected for South Africa for the T20-Internationals against Bangladesh. Hendricks showed glimpses of his best form in his match-haul of seven for 74 against the Sunfoil Dolphins in the final Sunfoil Series match of the 2014/2015-season. Even while representing the Cape Cobras in the Momentum One Day Cup final against The Unlimited Titans, the fast bowler operated with some venom and pace. “I am happy Beuran is selected. He showed some signs that he is getting back into form in his final few games (In the Indian Premier League while representing the Kings X1 Punjab),” said Justin Ontong, the Cape Cobras skipper. “I won’t see the old Beuran is back and that he is performing at 100 % of his potential, but it is about self-confidence, and it Beuran must still regain that,” said Ontong. “We know all about his potential,” the captain said. Ontong was at the helm of the Cape Cobras when Hendricks nipped out 28 batsmen in 11 matches in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge in 2013/2014. The Cobras lost the final by 2 runs against the Sunfoil Dolphins, but atoned for that loss by winning the Ram Slam T20 Challenge in emphatic style in the 2014/2015-season at the Chevrolet Knights’ expense. “I am confident Beuran is just one match away from his best in the T20 format,” Ontong said.

A great career beckons for Dane Paterson if the Cape Cobras star, who collected a hat-trick of awards including the Cobras player of the year-trophy, at the Western Province Cricket Association (WPCA) awards-function, can sustain his impressive 2014/2015-form next season, said Charl Langeveldt, the Cobras bowling coach, and Justin Ontong, the franchise-skipper.

Paterson was crowned as Cape Cobras player of the year, Sunfoil Series player of the year and players player of the year at the glittering season-ending function in the WPCC Sports Centre in Rondebosch on Saturday. The fast bowler won the spoils for his superb 42 wickets at an average of 22.54 in the Sunfoil Series competition. He also struck 13 times in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, which included four for 33 in the final against the Chevrolet Knights at Newlands. A feature of the season was that Paterson operated for 303.1 overs in the four-day domestic showpiece. He was the spearhead of the attack and never shirked his responsibilities during a season in which there were (occasional) notable absentees through injury, including Rory Kleinveldt, Beuran Hendricks, Justin Kemp and Dane Piedt. “My dream is to play for South Africa in all three formats,” Paterson said. “I would like to add a yard of pace, but you can bowl really fast on a flat track and concede runs. Vernon Philander has shown that with the right skills you can be very effective,” he added. “I do move it off the seam both ways and swing it through the air, but my work in the off-season is to improve that so that I can do it at will. “I have spoken to Charl (Langeveldt) and Paul Adams about the right lengths on different surfaces. I have also received so much advice from Justin Kemp, Andrew Puttick and others about which lengths to use at other grounds,” he added. What would be the next step for Paterson? Ontong highlighted the need for the fast bowler to strike regularly when given an opportunity at South Africa A-level. “Dane was very impressive,” said Langeveldt about Paterson. “His last spell every day was as fast as his first. His stamina was notable. He had a good winter training-program, and his consistency and length improved markedly. “He is the type of bowler who attacks the off-stump and nips it both ways off the seam – almost like Vernon. “But if he wants to progress to the next level, he must obviously demonstrate that he could operate with success if selected for the SA A-team to India.“You cannot have one good season and then not continue. That is why Vernon is successful, as he sustained his domestic form over several seasons,” Langeveldt explained.

Kieron Pollard, GF Linde, Cobus Roodt, Pieter Malan and Alexis le Breton were amongst the major cup-recipients at the glittering Western Province Cricket Association awards-function in Rondebosch on Saturday.

Dane Paterson walked away with a hat-trick of awards as Cape Cobras player of the year, players player of the year and Sunfoil Series player of the year. Andrew Puttick received the award as Momentum One Day player of the year of the Cape champions.Roodt, coach of the all-conquering Western Province women’s team, grabbed the award as coach of the year, while Le Breton claimed the women’s player of the year price.The women’s team won the Cricket South Africa Women’s 50-over trophy and the 20/20 trophy.Pollard, who averaged 81 with the bat and captured 14 wickets in the shortest domestic format in 2014/2015, received the award as Ram Slam T20 player of the year.Malan was the first-class player of the year.Linde nipped out 14 batsmen in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge and walked away with the spoils as young player of the year.Shamiel Isaacs was named umpire of the year.Laura Wolfaardt was the youth player of the year, while Gillian Carelse received the award as scorer of the year.Charl Bonthuys (deaf player of the year) and Joshua Doman (blind player of the year) also featured prominently at the awards-function.Catalyst Victoria Cricket Club was voted the most sporting team of the Western Province Cricket Association.The full list of awards is:Third Division League Winner Trophies: 3E BRI-TON LIFTMASTER EDGEMEAD CC 3D MACASSAR CC 3C CRAVENBY CC 3B PRIMROSE CC 3A JIVE ST AUGUSTINES CC Reserve League One Day Winner Certificates: RES E MILNERTON CC RES D HELDERBERG CC RES C CLAREMONT CC RES B UWC CC RES A WPCC 2ND DIVISION, Reserve F and Reserve G League Winners RES G ELSIES RIVER/NORTHLINK CC RES F DURBANVILLE CC 2ND DIVISION MANDALAY CC

Blind Player of the Year Joshua DomanMini Cricket Coordinator of the YearAndile Mtambeka Scorer of the YearGillian Carelse

Youth Player of the Year Laura Wolfvaardt

Coach of the Year Cobus Roodt

Umpire of the Year Shamiel Isaacs Momentum Cup Player of the Year Andrew Puttick Sunfoil Player of the Year Dane Paterson Ram Slam Player of the Year Kieron Pollard Young Player of the Year GF Linde Players Player of the Year Dane Paterson Women’s Player of the Year Alexis le Breton First Class Player of the Year Pieter Malan

The reward as Western Province’s Momentum One Day player of the year brought the curtain down on one of Andrew Puttick’s most rewarding limited-over seasons since making his debut for the Cape champions 15 years ago.

Puttick edged his colleague Robin Peterson for the trophy at a glittering function at WPCC’s Sports Centre in Rondebosch on Saturday. Peterson was the leading wicket-taker in the 50-over competition, grabbing 18 scalps as left-arm spinner. The left-handed opener Puttick scored 652 runs at an average of 72.44 in the Momentum One Day Cup competition in 2014/2015. Puttick, Peterson and Dean Elgar were also nominated for Cricket South Africa’s Momentum One Day Player of the year awards. The awards-function will take place in Johannesburg on 3rd June. Some of the keys to his amazing consistency was that Puttick never seemed anxious, fretted, suffered a rush of blood or attempted to force the pace unnecessarily in the 2014/2015-competition. He admitted that Richard Levi proved to be a perfect foil for him. The two had a good understanding and their astute running between the wickets, as well as Puttick’s decision not to try and emulate the explosive Levi, contributed to his success. While Levi favours the leg-side, but could also blossom past point, Puttick is strong square of the wicket on both sides, love the cover-driving and also uses the slog sweep to the proverbial cow-corner to excel. “It is difficult to explain why I did so well. I prepared very well, and I started off soundly in the first game. Thereafter things fell into place,” he added. Amazingly, Puttick struck a century and seven half-centuries in the campaign. The left-hander said cricket has changed enormously since he made his first-class debut in 2000/2001 alongside Graeme Smith. He said the bat he used during his maiden first-class season was like a tooth pick compared to the one he plays with currently. “We attempted to keep the ball on the ground then. Now the guys deliberately take the aerial route. “Back then, I mostly deflected the ball and flicked it with the wrists. “The edges of the bats were very thin then, but it is no longer the case. You have to possess very strong wrists, hands and forearms to play the game now,” he added.

The meticulous monitoring of his weekly training sessions while bowling in the nets for the Kings X1 Punjab in the Indian Premier League (IPL) helped to ensure that Beuran Hendricks’s continued his return to full fitness and form.

Vincent Barnes, high performance manager of Cricket South Africa, said he asked the 24-year old left-arm swing bowler of the Cape Cobras to update him every week about his bowling training sessions while playing in the IPL in April and May. Hendricks sent him video clips of his training sessions. Hendricks had to send him clips of his bowling practices, so that Barnes could check whether he still maintained the same bowling action and did not endanger his own back through accidental bad habits. In 2014, Hendricks spent a lengthy period on the substitute bench and consequently did much training in virtual isolation. He developed a stress fracture and required a lengthy rehabilitation period in the first part of the summer. Barnes monitored Hendricks closely to prevent a repeat of the mishap of 2014. Hendricks nipped out five batsmen in four matches for Punjab this season at an average of 21.80 and an economy-rate of 8.38. After the first match for Punjab, which was closely watched by Barnes, he notified Hendricks that he was falling away slightly and that his wrist position was not ideal. “He got better and better,” Barnes said about Hendricks’ performances. He also announced himself happy with Hendricks’ improved fitness levels and the way in which he generally sustained his own action in the IPL. The high performance manager told Hendricks to improve his fitness levels after the left-arm bowler laboured through the South Africa A-series against the England Lions. He needed to perform and bowl at pace for at least three bowling sessions per day. He usually started off well, but faded somewhat at the back-end of the day. “I wanted him to still run in and bowl at pace with the second new ball,” said Barnes. Hendricks was sensational in the winter of 2013, and captured 11 for 63 in an unofficial test match for South Africa A against India A. He was also superb in the Ram Slam T20 Challenge, nipping out 28 batsmen in 11 matches for the Cape Cobras in 2013/2014. His progress was curbed by the back injury and he only played in a couple of Momentum One Day Cup matches and Sunfoil Series matches for the Cape champions in the 2014/2015-season He showed glimpses of his match-winning qualities with a match-haul of seven for 74 in the final four-day match of the season against the Sunfoil Dolphins. Hendricks might be selected for South Africa A’s matches against India A later in 2015.

Tshepo Moreki has learned his trade as a cricketer at the high school that produced South Africa’s most successful test bowler of all time, Shaun Pollock.

A product of Glenwood High School and the Dolphins cricket academy, Moreki emerged at u.19-level in 2013. He formed part of a strong South African team that whitewashed the visiting England u.19-squad 5-0 in the One Day International youth series.

Moreki is a fast-medium bowler who can swing the new ball away from the right-hander, and trouble batsmen with the delivery that nips back off the seam.

He was part of the Sunfoil Dolphins team that played at the Bidvest Wanderers against the bizhub Highveld Lions. The hosts romped to a 10-wicket win, courtesy of a 14-wicket haul by Kagiso Rabada.

“It was a great learning curve to play against international-class batsmen like Neil McKenzie and Alviro Petersen,” he added.

In a Momentum One Day Cup match against The Unlimited Titans, Moreki nipped out one for 29 in seven overs to ensure that the Dolphins host the semi-final play-offs.

Moreki said the social camaraderie at the Dolphins was enjoyable. He hung out with a couple of younger players like Khaya Zondo, Calvin Savage and Daryn Dupavillon.

“We not only shared barbeques and the odd drink, but also played a few rounds of golf together,” he added.

He said the greatest coaching influence in his life was Yashin Ebrahim, who mentored him while he was at the Dolphins Academy just after finishing his grade-12-year at Glenwood.

“My goal during this coming season as part of the Cape Cobras squad is to establish myself as part of the team in all three formats,” he said.

It will be quite a challenging apprenticeship for the exciting 21-year old new-ball bowler. Other young pretenders like Travis Miller and Mpilo Njoloza along the senior statesmen like Beuran Hendricks, Rory Kleinveldt and Mthokozisi Shezi will all be setting their sights on being part of the Cape champions’ starting eleven.